Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has revealed he met with numerous pastors and asked them to pressure the Texas House to push forward one of the Lone Star State's controversial "bathroom bills."

"I think as governor my job is to speak with my constituents," Abbott said in an interview with Chris Salcedo on WBAP radio. "These pastors were concerned about the possibility of no law passing that would protect the safety of women and children in bathrooms."

Abbott's disclosure came after the political website The Quorum Report quoted Robert Morris, pastor of the Gateway Church in Southlake, as saying Abbott had called him to request, "please ask your people to call their state rep by Monday."

Morris added: "He's calling 10 megachurches."

Abbott explained to Salcedo: "I said, 'If you really want to have something passed, you need to make sure that you make contact with the members of the House because this is where it's being held up. It's being held up in the House of Representatives."

The "bathroom bill," would require transgender people to use bathrooms in public schools, government buildings and public universities based on "biological sex," The Texas Tribune reports.

The newspaper said a key deadline passed on Monday without the House "bathroom bill" getting out of committee. That means the bill won't get to the House floor during this session, but is still alive.